7 people jailed across Turkey for FETO links

By Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA (AA) - Seven people were convicted and sentenced to jail on Thursday for being members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind last year’s defeated coup, according to a security source.

Among the seven were a doctor, a businessman and security staff.

The High Criminal Court in northern Ardahan province handed down nine years each to a former police chief and a police officer for membership in an armed terrorist organization.

They were also convicted of using ByLock, FETO’s encrypted smartphone messaging application.

In central Kirikkale province, a high court sentenced a former police officer to seven years and one month in prison for using ByLock.

The 2nd High Criminal Court gave seven years and nine months in prison to a former doctor and a businessman for membership in an armed terrorist organization and using ByLock.

In southern Adana province, a man was sentenced to six years and three months after being convicted of being a member of an armed terrorist organization.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.